Rupture-truss.



J. A. JOHNSTON.

RUPTURE TRUSS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 20, 1911.

l;O18,1 1 3. Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

UNITED STATES or FFGE.

JAMES ALFRED JOHNSTON, OF VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

RUPTURE-TRUSS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES ALFRED JOHN- STON, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at 1954 Eleventh avenue west, in

I the city of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, Dominionof Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRupture-Trusses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trusses for rupture or herniaand the general objects of my invention are to improve and simplify theconstruction of such an appliance to render it more comfortable in useand better adapted to perform the functions required of it.

More specific objects are to provide an improved form of compression padand to provide means for supporting the compression pad in such a mannerthat it will not be likely to be displaced, and the pressure of whichmay be augmented when it has yielded a determined distance.

Further objects are to improve the form of compression pad itself.

In its construction the invention includes a supporting member adaptedto encircle the waist and having a compression member hinged thereto andspring compressed toward the rupture, said compression member carryingspring pads and having means for augmenting the spring pressure when ithas yielded a determined amount, all as hereinafter more fully set forthand described in the accompanying specification and drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the truss. Fig. 2 isa detail in elevation of the compression members. Fig. 3 is a sectionalview through the compression members on the line 2-2, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa sectional detail through one of the compression pads.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in each figure.

Referring to the drawings A represents the supporting member of anyusual construction and adapted to encircle the waist of the wearer. Asillustrated, this member is formed of flat spring Inetal,but it mightequally be formed of a round or otherwise shaped bar. 7

The free ends of the supporting member carry the usual pads B and Cadapted to fit in the hollow of the back just above the hip pecificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed March 20, 1911.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912. Serial No. 615,493.

of the user. The spring, if desired, may be covered with leather orother suitable material.

D represents my improved compression member hinged to the supportingmember at the front thereof and adapted to fit as a saddle over thepubic ridge and carrying pads E and F adapted to bear on the abdominalwall in the part necessary.

The compression member is adapted to be spring compressed against theabdomen, which result is accomplished in the embodiment illustrated bythe use of a spring hinge G as a connection between the supportingmember and the compression member, the form of hinge illustratedincluding bracket members 10 and 11 on the supporting mem: ber .andcompression member respectively, connected by a pivoting rod 12 aroundwhich is wound the spring 13, the ends of which ing member and pad.

In order to guard against displacement of the compression member byswinging backwardlv or through other cause, means are provided foraugmenting the spring pressure when the compression member has yielded adetermined amount. The form of these means. which I have designed, andillustrated in the present application, comprise aflat springI-Isecuredto the supporting member and offset inwardly slightly, being connectedto the supporting member by a loose bolt 14 which extends throughperforations l5 and 16 in the spring and supporting member respectively.

It will be seen that by adjusting the nut 17 on the bolt, the distancewhich the compression member may swing outwardly before the spring H isbrought into play, may be regulated. It will be understood that in .use,the compression member Will normally occupy a position farther outwardlythan the spring H.

The pads E and F are each supported with freedom to yield against thespring means, and the construction which I have spring bear respectivelyagainst the supportadopted to accomplish this comprises cylindricalsockets 18 carried on brackets 19 extending from the supporting member,the pads being formed with tubular plunger members 20 fitting in thesockets, a spiral spring 21 extending between the plunger and seat ofthe socket, the outward movement of the pad being limited by a bolt 22extending through the socket 18 and through the plate 23, which formsthe base of the pad. The pad itself comprises a dome shaped covering 24of flexible material such as leather or kid, the edges of which fit overthe plate 23 and are retained in position by a clamping plate 25 whichmay be riveted or otherwise secured to the plate 23. The pad is filledwith suitable compressible material such as hair and has a compressionspring 26 in the interior which bears against a partition 27 of leatheror like material which is near the outer surface of the covering, theobject of the partition being to protect the covering from the directpressure of the spring, so that the wearer will not be madeuncomfortable by the direct pressure of the spring.

It will be of course apparent that the size and shape and location ofthe pads may all be adjusted to suit the nature of the particular userof the appliance. The spring arrangement illustrated gives a maximumdegree of flexibility and, combined with the swiveling pads B and C,permits perfect freedom of action to the user.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of my invention, within thescope of the claims, constructed without departing from the spirit orscope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a rupture truss, supporting means, a compression member, a springhinge connecting the compression member with the supporting means, aflat spring on the supporting member, and connecting means between thetlat spring and the supporting member adapted to cause the flat springto resist the movement of the compression member after the latter hasmoved a determined amount.

2. In a rupture truss and in combination supporting means, a springactuated compression member hinged thereto formed with a perforation, aflat spring on the supporting member formed with a perforation and aconnecting bolt extending between the perforations in the supportingmember and flat spring respectively.

8. In a rupture truss and in combination, supporting means, acompression member carried thereby, brackets on the compression member,sockets carried by said brackets, compression pads formed with two innerplungers fitting within said sockets, springs extending between thesockets and the plungers, and bolts extending through the sockets andpads and adapted to limit the outward movement of the latter.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES ALFRED JOHNSTON.

WVitnesses:

RUSSEL S. SMART, JAs. C. RITCHIE.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

